Squeaking/Creaking from Front End

Hey Guys and Gals I’m new to the forum, I recently purchased a 2017 Tundra CM 4x4 with 30k miles on it. Coming from a Tacoma this truck is a night and day improvement! But I have noticed recently it has developed a creaking/squeaking sound that is coming from the passenger side front. I have taken it to the dealership twice under warranty but have had no luck with them. Below are the symptoms I have noticed and somethings I have tried to fix the problem. Please let me know if you have any thoughts or ideas on what else to try.

Symptoms – Creaking/Squeaking coming from front passenger side

• Makes a creaking/Squeaking noise almost everytime I back the truck into a parking spot.
• I do not hear the sound very much if any at all while driving the truck down the road, generally just hear it when pulling into the driveway or backing up with the wheels turned.
• Does not make a sound if you are parked and turn the steering wheel lock to lock.
• It seems like the majority of the time I hear the creaking is when I'm pulling it somewhere going slow and turning to the right.
• The sound does not seem to get any worse when going over speed bumps or things that makes the suspension flex.
• The noise also seems to be inconsistent. Some times it makes the noise some times it does not!

I have removed and greased the sway bar bushing, removed the skid plate, and inspected everything under the truck on both sides. Both upper and lower ball joints look to be in good shape no torn boots or anything like that, same for the tie rod ends and all other bushings.

Sorry for the long post, but I have been searching and trying to figure out where this sound is coming from before it drives me CRAZY! Thank you for your help and all the wonderful information on this form!

 

Welcome from CO. Suspension experts will chime in soon.

 

Yea that sucks.. at least It doesn’t seem to be so crazy.. Hope it gets found

 

I have a very similar noise in my 2014 Limited Crew-max. Those types of noises drive me crazy but i cant find it. Of course when i first asked at my dealer i couldn't make it make the noise. So I have had to live with it. Some of the guys here say its behind the dash and it sounds like it could be....but it also sounds like it could be in front suspension. I did do a leveling kit and had alot of front apart but the noise was there before AND after.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome from Arizona. Hope you can track down the source. My other vehicle is 25 years old and its been making noises for about 23 years and I still don't know where it comes from.

 

Sorry for your dilemma. Welcome to the forum brother!

 

Thank you guys for the welcome messages! And I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with this issue, but I don't think I could live with this noise for 23 years

 

Is there anyway to get a sound clip?

 

Yes I am going to work on getting a sound like this evening or tomorrow evening. I tried to make one the other day, but it is pretty difficult to hear.

 

Just upgrade your sound system and that should fix it..... joking

 

Do you have a TRD Pro skid plate? Or an aftermarket skid plate?

I installed a TRD Pro skid plate and after about 2 months I had a very similar noise. I wen under and torqued all the bolts to the specs and the noise left and has not returned.

 

Welcome Barry. I've heard the skid plate can cause a noise like this. Just something to check. You can also spray all the moving parts with a lubricant to see if that will help you find the source.

 

It has the factory skid plate on it, but I removed it last night and I still have the same noise without the skid plate this morning!

I have been slowly spraying different suspension parts and then checking to see hopefully which part fixes the problem. but so far no luck!

 

Mine sounds more like a creak, someone else posted this:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/creak-noise-on-acceleration.20993/#post-494291

 

WD40 lithium grease is your friend spray it where you think the noise could come from and see if it goes away

 

This stuff is pretty good too.

$12 Super Lube 92003 Silicone Lubricating Grease with PTFE, 3 oz Tube, Translucent White

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081JE0OO/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Sidebar: @Tundraman479, how big is that trailer? 6x10? 7x14?

 

I would have to measure it, but I think ether 7x12 or 7x14. It can hold a RZR on the back and a fourwheeler across the front.

 

I feel your pain. I had the skid plate squeak for a year and a half before I did anything about it. Ended up driving me crazy. what your describing is almost identical to what my symptoms were. You've already taken off the skid plate so I can't be much help but hope you figure it out! Welcome to the forum!

 

So I have done some more investigating this evening. I don’t think it’s the suspension. It seems like it is something to do with the body. I removed the grill and can still here it when I am backing up and turning the wheels to the right at full lock. Sounds more like dried out rubber or plastic rubbing.
It seems to do it worse when I am stopping so maybe when the body is flexing in a certain direction.

I guess it’s time to keep pulling parts off until it stops lol

 

Have you check to make sure all these nuts are tight? Grasping at straws at the moment.

 

No but that did cross my mind. I’ll check it out tomorrow evening. Thanks

 

Hello All I'm new to this forum as well but have owned every gen tundra made. So as you can tell I'm very loyal to the toyota brand . I recently bought a new 2018 tundra crew max and what your describing is exactly what I've been dealing with for a few months. I couldn't put my finger on it until now. Although I'm not for sure at this is the problem but ive noticed you have the same nfab light bar that I do. And I'm almost positive that the sound started when I installed it about a month ago. The NFab bar comes with real cheap brackets. And since the brackets rest on the frame in the front I think when you go over on a driveway or turn it tweaks the frame which causes the brackets to twist and make a clicking or popping noise. I've even grabbed the top handlebar and pulled up and it made a similar sound. Just an idea but I'm thinking that's what it might be. Those type of sounds really drive me nuts especially when it's a brand new truck under 6,000 miles. Let me know what you think. I would love to hear feedback on it.

 

This is exactly what's making it squeak! I pulled that nfab light bar mount off and the squeak went away. Its a pain in the ass to get to the bolts that hold that nfab light bar bumper thing on also. But after I pulled mine off you can see where the paint had rubbed off the mounts. Some time in the future I plan to grind down the mounts and reinstall it and see if that will fix the squeaking, but I'm not looking forward to it cause its a huge pain in the ass to get on and off!

 

Old thread I know, but I have a squeaky front passenger side noise driving me nuts. Nothing over bumps or if I push up and down on the truck. Just a light squeak when I slow down or under normal driving conditions. Where was that light bar bracketed to? I have a bull bar bracketed to the tow hooks. I wonder if that could be it.

 

Welcome from Northeast Connecticut

 

The light bar mount was mounted to I think where the bumper mounts to the frame. It wasn’t the tow hooks.

Hope that helps!

 

I had a similar noisy problem on my crewmax and finally fixed the issue!! The sound could be coming from the front skid plate if there is a bolt missing or loose, but in my case it ended up being an exhaust hanger that was rubbing against the middle part of the truck on the metal frame. The Tundra has a mid-hanger that may slightly shift and cause metal to metal contact when going through several small and continuous bumbs in the road causing an annoying squeak and creak. A trip to the exhaust shop fixed the issue when the hanger rod was modified to allow for more free moving clearance.

Hope this helps

 

welcome aboard. hate noises like that. Just last night a totally jacked up CM 4x4 pulled in last night and it was making all sorts of noises. So much so the wife even said something to me. Hope you find it and my guess is maybe a wheel bearing?? Or internal on a shock?? Good luck.